Flock cameras have quickly become one of the hottest button issues in Florida politics, and state lawmakers are already discussing how to address the issue permanently.
Florida de-Flocked all state and some local roads virtually overnight, easing some of the 4th Amendment and privacy concerns expressed by many citizens. But it also put on pause a technology that has been touted by law enforcement as an effective crime-fighting tool.
Now, state lawmakers are in early talks about how to balance those countervailing interests in the form of statewide legislation.
“Those who would trade liberty for security, in the end, will have neither security nor liberty. And those are the things we must be mindful of as we craft this legislation,” said State Rep. Dean Black (R-Jacksonville).
Black is asking constituents to weigh in to help gauge what the public wants to see done on the issue.
“Do you want more ability for law enforcement to track people and solve crimes? Do you want more responsible safeguards put in place, and what exactly should those look like?” said Black.
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Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday suggested he would support a special session to address the issue of automatic license plate reading technology.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly is also calling for a special session.
“While we have seen Flock cameras help solve violent crimes and locate missing people, law-abiding Floridians should not be subject to non-stop surveillance,” Jolly said in a statement. “This is a complex issue that requires a special session, with input from law enforcement and privacy advocates, not just executive orders.”
State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) said she wants to see the issue addressed sooner rather than later.
Specifically, she said she wants to see restrictions on who has access to Flock data, how it can be accessed and how long it can be stored.
“And ultimately there needs to be punishment for those who don’t follow these rules. There needs to be clear civil and criminal violations for individuals that abuse this data,” said Eskamani.
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But it’s unclear whether lawmakers will flock to the State Capitol for a special session on the issue before the November general election.
Acting House Speaker Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) did not respond when asked whether he’d support a special session. A spokesperson for Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Bartow) said he was out of pocket this week.
Senator Minority Leader Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville) indicated she’d prefer to see the issue taken up during the regular session in March.
“I have deep concerns about Flock cameras and our constitutional right to privacy. I fully support our state and local governments taking action to reign in their use,” said Davis in an emailed statement.
“There are a number of policy issues at play when it comes to the use of these cameras. It would be best for us to use our 2027 Legislative Session to address them so we can take our time and get the legislation right the first time,” Davis said.
Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida) has also indicated support for addressing the issue of Flock cameras, but has stopped short of calling for a special session.
“The 4th Amendment is not up for debate in Florida. Public safety is paramount and I’m proud to be endorsed by 58 Florida sheriffs, but we will not turn into a surveillance state and we will protect our citizens’ privacy,” said Donalds in a statement.
And while DeSantis suggested a pre-election special session might be a tough sell, he said there could still be an opportunity to tackle the issue before the end of the year.
“Does it need to be September versus October, October versus November, you know I’m not sure if that’s the case, but I do know that they need to be addressed and I think they will one way or another,” said DeSantis.
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